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The Prime Minister in Action
First Meeting of State Ministers and Commemorative Photograph Session
September 18, 2020
Photograph of the commemorative photograph session
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (3)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (4)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (5)
[Provisional Translation]
On September 18, 2020, the State Ministers for the Suga Cabinet were determined during a Cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister attended the attestation ceremony for the State Ministers at the Imperial Palace. The Prime Minister then returned to the Prime Minister’s Office, where he held a commemorative photograph session and then attended the first meeting of State Ministers.
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“I would like to offer some remarks on the occasion of the meeting of the State Ministers.
Facing a national crisis of ongoing infections of the novel coronavirus and still severe economic conditions, we must not allow a political vacuum to be created. I will carry on the initiatives implemented under the Abe administration and advance them further so as to overcome the current situation and bring back a daily life in which the public can enjoy peace of mind as early as possible.
‘Self-help, mutual help, public help, and kizuna (bonds)’ is the vision of society that I aspire for. I firmly believe that overcoming various issues with that in mind, such as regional revitalization and the shrinking population, as well as the declining birthrate and aging society, will create dynamism in Japan. To this end, we will meet the people’s expectations by working as a ‘Cabinet that works for the People,’ which devotes itself to advance regulatory reforms without being constrained by vested interests, tearing down bureaucratic sectionalism and the notorious habit of following past precedent.
I hope you will all fully exercise your abilities in your respective fields, and push forward with implementing our policies.
Working closely together with the Parliamentary Vice-Ministers, and based on appropriate relationships built on trust with public servants, I ask you to create environments that allow each ministry and agency to fully exercise their capabilities, support the respective Ministers, and exert every effort as members of the ‘Cabinet that works for the People.’”
